The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the outcome of the FCT area council elections demonstrated that voters could no longer be swayed by what he described as symbolic roadside campaign gestures.
In a statement following the polls, Wike said the elections had exposed the “hypocrisy of people who go about buying corn and groundnuts from roadside sellers for the purpose of campaign just to deceive Nigerians.”
The remarks came after the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five of the six area council chairmanship seats in the Federal Capital Territory.
Political Undertone
Without naming specific individuals or parties, Wike suggested that voters had distinguished between what he called the “real opposition” and what he described as “emergency democrats.”
“This election has indeed shown that Nigerians now know the ruling party and the real opposition party,” he stated.
He added that residents of the FCT demonstrated that they “cannot be deceived” by performative campaign tactics.
Tinubu’s Leadership Referenced
Wike also linked the electoral outcome to President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, describing the results as a reflection of the President’s “vision” and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He commended the President for defending democracy and ensuring amendments to the Electoral Act aimed at strengthening credible elections.
The minister further congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for what he described as the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Winners Urged to Govern With Humility
While celebrating the outcome, Wike urged newly elected officials to serve with humility and focus on development, particularly in satellite towns across the FCT.
“Work tirelessly to improve the lives of the residents and bring development to our communities,” he said.
Broader Context
Wike’s comments add a rhetorical layer to the unfolding FCT poll fallout, where opposition-aligned groups have raised concerns about voter turnout and election credibility.
His choice of imagery — “corn and groundnut campaigns” — quickly became a focal talking point across political platforms, reflecting the increasingly symbolic nature of grassroots campaign strategies in Nigeria’s local elections.
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